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Guide to the Research and Committee Staff Section

Guide to the Research and Committee Staff Section
The Research and Committee Staff Section (RACSS) is one of ten staff sections affiliated with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). RACSS provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, serves as a means of interaction for legislative research and committee staff, and offers professional development opportunities.

Membership
RACSS membership is open to legislative staff involved in research, policy analysis, legal research, committee staffing, constituent services or general services for research offices, chamber offices, caucuses, committees, or individual legislators.

RACSS welcomes both partisan and nonpartisan staff, and sponsors activities of interest to both management and non-management legislative staff. There are no membership dues or formal affiliation process. To join, simply contact NCSL and ask to be placed on the RACSS membership list.

Governance
RACSS was established in 1979 and operates under Bylaws that provide guidance for staff section activities and procedures. The staff section is governed by elected officers who serve on the RACSS Executive Committee.  The RACSS Executive Committee consists of a chair, vice-chair, immediate past chair and six directors.  It is supported by an NCSL staff liaison, who serves as the RACSS secretary. 

Programs and Activities
RACSS conducts programs throughout the year, offering legislative staff professional development opportunities and providing a forum to meet with their counterparts from other states. RACSS programs include the:
 

Professional Development Seminar
Each Fall, RACSS presents the staff section's premier training event, a two-and-a-half-day seminar designed specifically for legislative research, committee and policy staff. The seminar features a variety of plenary and workshop sessions on research skills, management issues, technology, communications and leadership.

NCSL Annual Meeting
RACSS presents programs in conjunction with the NCSL Annual Meeting. RACSS also holds its annual Business Meeting and elections during the NCSL Annual Meeting and recognizes the recipients of the annual Legislative Staff Achievement Award. 

RACSS Home Page
RACSS maintains its own home page on the Internet, at http://www.ncsl.org/programs/lis/racss/racsshmp.htm. There you'll find electronic versions of the RACSS directory, newsletters, program history, officers, bylaws, meeting announcements and general information about staff section activities.

RACSS Newsletter
Published three times a year in print and/or electronic formats, the RACSS Newsletter highlights activities of the staff section and provides information on training programs, news at NCSL, updates from state legislatures, and discussions on issues of interest to legislative research staff.

For More Information
For more information about RACSS, contact NCSL at (303) 364-7700 or visit the RACSS website at http://www.ncsl.org/racss/.